AmaZulu President: If It Were Up To Me, I’d Keep Zwane Like Ferguson And Wenger

AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu says if it were entirely up to him, he would keep head coach Arthur Zwane at the club for the long term — just as Manchester United and Arsenal did with legendary managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger.

Zungu, however, admitted that the decision does not rest solely with him, but also depends on Zwane’s willingness to remain in Durban and continue building on the progress made at Usuthu.

Wenger managed Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, winning three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, and a League Cup. Ferguson, on the other hand, is regarded as the most successful manager in British football history, having won 13 league titles, two UEFA Champions League trophies, and two FIFA Club World Cups during his 27-year reign at Manchester United.

Zwane was appointed alongside Vusi Vilakazi on 8 October last year, following AmaZulu’s poor start to the season that led to the dismissal of Spanish coach Pablo Franco Martin.

When Vilakazi resigned in February for personal reasons, Zwane took full charge as the sole head coach.

At the time of their appointment, Usuthu were struggling near the bottom of the Betway Premiership standings. Under Zwane’s leadership, however, the team recovered impressively to finish sixth last season — securing a top-eight finish for the first time in two years.

Now, a year later, AmaZulu sit seventh on the log with 15 points from nine matches, showing both progress and areas for improvement.

Speaking at the club’s new logo and mascot (Hebe) unveiling event at Princess Magogo Stadium on Friday, Zungu made it clear that he values stability on the coaching front.

“Ideally, I don’t want to change coaches,” Zungu said. “If I could follow the Arsenal model with Arsène Wenger, I would do that.

“If I could emulate Manchester United’s approach with Sir Alex Ferguson, I would also do that. But it takes two to tango — the coach must be willing to stay and to work with the team.”

Zungu praised Zwane’s character and understanding of AmaZulu’s identity, saying he embodies what the club stands for.

“In Arthur, Phakimpi, I believe I’ve found someone who deeply appreciates who we are and respects the badge,” he said. “He’s also fully embraced the AmaZulu way of life — and the fact that he’s a good coach is a major plus.

“In previous seasons, when we made coaching changes, we felt they were necessary. But now, we want continuity.”

AmaZulu will next face Chippa United in a Betway Premiership clash at Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday (20:15).